GB2233892A

GB2233892A - Tiltable mattress support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2233892A
Application number: GB8914263A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuo Watanabe
Original assignee: NIPPON MDM KK
Current assignee: NIPPON MDM KK
Priority date: 1989-06-20
Filing date: 1989-06-21
Publication date: 1991-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-21
Also published as: US4934002A; GB2233892B; GB8914263D0

Description

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DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Title: 11Tiltable Mattress Support" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a mattress support assembly intended to be mounted on a bedstead and capable of being tilted, and more particularly to a tiltable mattress support assembly for a patient which can be tilted or turned about a longitudinal axis for assisting the patient to turn in bed or preventing the patient from developing bedsores.

In order to change the inclination of a mattress of a bed, a tiltable mattress supporting device has previously been used, in which a supporting member for the mattress is rotatably mounted on a longitudinal shaft provided on a..bed frame, the supporting member being mechanically tilted by a driving mechanism. It is also known to make provision for tilting a mattress when desired by inserting an airbag having a triangular-shaped section between the mattress and the bed frame.

In the first-noted prior system, a large and heavy driving device is provided for inclining the mattress supporting member. Further, it is necessary to provide a safety device such as a stop for stopping the mattress supporting member at a desired position. Therefore, the system is complicated in construction and accordingly expensive to manufacture. In the second-noted prior system, when the mattress is inclined to a large angle, the mattress may slip off the airbag or a patient in the bed may roll or slip off the mattress.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tiltable mattress support assembly which has a simple construction.and can safely help a patient to turn in bed.

According to the present invention, there is provided mattress support assembly comprising: a rectangular frame made of an airtight bag containing plurality of porous particles, the frame having fences along both longitudinal sides and a valve through which air may be extracted from the interior of the bag to evacuate the bag, and which valve serves to keep the bag in an evacuated condition; an upper air cushion comprising superimposed sheets connected together along a plurality of longitudinal seams, the upper air cushion being mounted on the frame to cover the frame; a lower air cushion comprising superimposed sheets connected together along a plurality of transverse seamsg the lower air cushion being provided on the underside of the frame; and two air bags disposed on the underside of the lower air cushion at right and left sides respectively as viewed in the longitudinal direction, each of said air bags having a valve for supplying air to the bag and for discharging air from the bag.

Preferably, the mattress support further comprises a connecting sheet disposed on the underside of the frame and detachably connected to the upper air cushion at both sides thereof, the lower air cushion being disposed in a pocket formed in said connecting sheet.

An embodiment of the invention is described below by way or example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- FIGURE 1 is a sectional view ahowing a tiltable mattress support assembly embodying the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the mattress support assembly as viewed from the underside of the mattress support assembly; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a frame forming part of the mattress support assembly; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a connecting sheet forming part of the mattress support assembly; FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a lower air cushion sheet forming part of the mattress support dssembly; FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a lower air cushion sheet forming part of the mattress support assembly; FIGURE 7 is a plan view of upper air bags forming part of the mattress support assembly; FIGURE 8 is a plan view of lower air bags forming part of the mattress support assembly, and FIGURE 9 is a sectional view showing the connection of upper and lower air bags in the mattress assembly of Figures 1 to 8.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a rectangular frame is provided in the form of an airtight bag made of nonwoven fabric and which contains a mass of porous particules. As shown in Figure 3, both of the longitudinal sides of the frame 1 are upwardly bent to form side fences la. A valve 1b is provided in the airtight bag through which air may be pumped from the bag. By exhausting air from the bag with a vacuum pump, the particles are tightly compacted between the walls of the bag and the frame 1 is thereby stiffened.

An upper air cushion 2 is attached to the frame 1 to cover the frame 1 as shown in Figure 1. The upper air cushion 2 comprises two superimposed impermeable sheets which are sealed together along a seam extending in a closed path around the periphery of the sheets. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the superimposed sheets are sealed together along a plurality of seams 2a extending in the longitudinal direction of the cushion 2, so that, when the cushion is inflated, a plurality of tubular longitudinal chambers are formed which increase the longitudinal rigidity of the upper air cushion 2.

A connecting sheet 3 is attached to the underside of the frame 1, with the longitudinal edges of both sides of the connecting sheet 3 being detachably secured, by tying connecting strings, to respective sides of the assembly of superimposed sheets which forms the upper air cushion. Referring to Figure 4, the connecting sheet 3 has a pocket 4 in which a lower air cushion 5 is inserted. The lower air cushion 5, like the upper air cushion, comprises two superimposed impermeable sheets which are sealed together along a seam extending in a closed path around the periphery of the sheets. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the superimposed sheets forming the lower air cushion 5 are sealed together along a plurality of seams 5a extending in the lateral direction of the sheet 5 so that when the cushion is inflated a plurality of tubular transverse chambers is-formed which increases the lateral rigidity of the lower air cushion.

To the underside of the connecting sheet 3, inflatable air bags 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b are attached on the right side and left side as viewed in the longitudinal direction. Air bags 6a and 7a and air bags 6b and 7b at both sides are superimposed, respectively. Referring to Figure 7, each of the inflatable air bags 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b has an air inlet/outlet valve Al, B1, A2 and B2, respectively. Right and left air bags 6a and 6b. comprise a series of air chambers and are connected to each other by a central web portion 6c. A series of buttons 8 is provided along the outer longitudinal side of each of the air bags 6a, 6b whereby the air bags 6a, 6b can be attached to the connecting sheet 3. Referring to Figure 8, each of the air bags 7a and 7b likewise comprises a series of air chambers. A central web portion 7c is provided connecting the air bags 7a and 7b to each other.

During manufacture, the air bags 6a and 6b are superimposed on the air bags 7a and 7b and the central web portions 6c and 7c are connected by sewing together. The upper air bags 6a and 6b are attached to the connecting sheet 3 by buttons 8 provided on the sides of the air bags 6a and 6b.

In use of the mattress support assembly, the frame 1 is covered with the upper air cushion 2 and the mattress assembly is placed on a bedstead. A mattress is put on the upper air cushion 2 and a patient is laid on the mattress.

Since the upper air cushion 2 has a plurality of longitudinal partitions 2a to increase the longitudinal rigidity and the lower air cushion 5 provided under the frame 1 has a plurality of lateral partitions 5a to increase the lateral rigidity, the rigidity of the frame 1 is reinforced.

The amounts of air in the air chambers of the air bags 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b can be selectively varied. For example, by supplying the air to the bags of one side and by discharging air from the bags of the other side through valves Al, A2 and B1, B2, and vice versa, the inclination of the surface of the mattress support assembly and of the mattress thereon can be changed. Thus, the mattress support assembly can be tilted or rolled to help the patient to turn in bed. The inclination may aso be changed by varying the amount of air in the bags of one side only.

The lower air cushion 5 provided in the connecting sheet 3 has a sufficient thickness to prevent the lower side portions of the mattress support assembly from touching the bed frame when the frame and mattress are tilted. Furthermore, the fences la of the frame 1 prevent the patient from falling off the mattress.

Both sides of the connecting sheet 3 are detachably attached to respective sides of the upper air cushion 2 and the lower air cushion 5 is inserted in the pocket 4 provided on the connecting sheet 3. Only the upper air bags 6a and 6.b are attached to the connecting sheet 3, at both sides thereof, the lower air bags 7a and 7b being integrally connected to upper air bags 6a and 6b at the central web portions 6c, 7c. Accordingly, the mattress support assembly can be inclined without interference between members. Furthermore, assembling and disassembling of the mattress support assembly can be easily performed.

The preferred embodiment described with reference to the drawings provides the following effects and advantages.

(1) The upper air cushion 2 has a plurality of longitudinal partitions to increase the longitudinal rigidity and the lower air cushion provided under the frame has a plurality of lateral partitions to increase the lateral rigidity. Thus, it is effective to reinforce the frame.

(2) The amount of air in the air chambers of the air bags can be selectively varied by supplying air to the air bags of one side and by discharging air from the air bags on the other side. Accordingly, the mattress support assembly is inclined or rolled to help the patient to turn in bed. The lower air cushion provided in the connecting sheet has a sufficient thickness to prevent the lower side portions of the mattress support assembly from touching the floor or bed frame.

(3) Since the fences are provided on the mattress support assembly, a patient laid on a mattress on the support assembly is prevented from falling off the mattress.

(4) Both sides of the connecting sheet are detachably secured, by ties, to respective sides of the upper air cushion sheet and the lower air cushion sheet is inserted in the pocket provided on the connecting sheet. Thus, assembling and disassembling of the mattress support assembly can be easily performed.

It will be appreciated that the mattress support assembly need not be laid upon a bedstead but may simply be supported on the floor, and that in such a situat.ion, inflation of the air bags on either side may be used to bring the frame 1 and air cushion 2 and any mattress laid thereon, to a desired level. It will also be appreciated that, in certain situations, the upper air cushion 2 may itself serve as a mattress without any separate mattress being laid thereon.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A mattress support assembly comprising: a rectangular frame made of an airtight bag containing a plurality of porous particles, the frame having fences along both longitudinal sides and a valve through which air may be extracted from the interior of the bag to evacuate the bag, and which valve serves to keep the bag in an evacuated condition; an upper air cushion comprising superimposed sheets connected together along a plurality of longitudinal seams, the upper air cushion being mounted on the frame to cover the frame; a lower air cushion comprising superimposed sheets connected together along a plurality of transverse seams, the lower air cushion being provided on the underside of the frame; and two air bags disposed on the underside of the lower air cushion at right and left sides respectively as viewed in the longitudinal direction, each of said air bags having a valve for supplying air to the bag and for discharging air from the bag.

2. A mattress support assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a connecting sheet disposed on the underside of the frame and detachably connected to the upper air cushion at both sides thereof, the lower air cushion being disposed in a pocket formed in said connecting sheet,

3. A mattress support assembly according to claim 2 wherein the air bag on each side is connected to the connecting sheet at the outer side of the bag and the right side bag and left side bag are connected with each other at a central portion therebetween..

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4. A mattress support assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein two superimposed air bags are provided under the lower air cushion at the right side and two superimposed air bags are provided under the lower air cushion on the left side each of said air bags having a valve for supplying air to the bag and for discharging air from the bag.

5. A mattress support assembly according to claim 4 wherein the upper air bag on the left side is connected with the upper air bag on the right side by a central web and the lower air bag on the left side is connected with the lower air bag on the right side by a central web, and said central webs are connected together in superimposed relation to connect the upper and lower air bags together.

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6. A mattress assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

7. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein Published 1991 at 7be Patent Office. State House. 66171 High Holborn. London WC I R 417. Further copies my be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cwrnfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques)td. St Mary Cray, Kent.